What we do
We say Yes to Life, No to Mining by bringing frontline voices to global prominence emblematic casesthematic social forumWhat we do
We are a global solidarity network of communities resisting mining and fighting for a life-sustaining future. The network provides opportunities for sharing stories and strategies across geographies, and enables us to join our voices together to build power for change. We aim to be a source of support for frontline environmental and human rights defenders – whether through inspiring connections, research, small grants or access to other resources. We are holding back the onslaught while making space for living the alternative.
Emblematic Cases
YLNM identifies stories from the solidarity network which can be reference points for others and showcases these as emblematic cases, with the aim of inspiring solutions elsewhere. The emblematic cases are written by people involved in the case itself, as an opportunity to reflect upon their process, and placing it in dialogue with others. Our emblematic cases to date have resounded loudly within the local context, and have created bridges of solidarity and learning across localities.
Position Papers
YLNM Position Papers offer a clear and strong position, based on the reality on the ground. We aim for this perspective to be supported and further developed through emerging position papers from robust research to offer structured positions regarding mining related matters. These are especially relevant as the threat from mining intensifies and assumes new guises. Our members rely on these narrative anchors to support their resistances, as do our allies who have used our previous position papers to inform their own strategies and to advocate in policy spaces.
TSF
The Global Thematic Social Forum on Mining and the Extractive Economy (TSF-Mining) brings together a diverse range of participants from Africa, Asia, Oceania, Latin America (LATAM), the Middle East and North Africa, North America, and Europe. This includes Indigenous and Local communities, unions, faith-based groups, and civil society who are resisting mining and extractivism with the aim to consolidate a broad movement in saying No to Mining and Yes to Life.
YLNM has played an integral role at the Thematic Social Forum on Mining and the Extractive Economy since its inception, sitting on the International Steering Committee and its regional working groups. Read about the recent TSF which took place in Semarang, Indonesia in 2023.
Action Funds
When funding allows, we offer concrete support for grassroots organisations and front-line communities in pivotal moments via our Action Fund – small grants to communities who otherwise cannot usually access financial support in order to boost their processes and scale-up their actions. Each round of Action Fund grants are advertised within the membership.
Successful applications from previous rounds of our Action Fund have displayed a rich diversity of resistance actions and life-sustaining future building initiatives. Examples include the organising of a regional gathering by REMA, Mexico, the ‘Awakening of Nature’ Carnaval March by Corporación SOS Ambiental – Comité Ambiental en Defensa de la Vida, Tolima, Colombia; and a solidarity trip to Sulawesi, Indonesia to visit pepper farmers and women’s cooperatives.
Other support for members
YLNM is a platform through which the members can articulate their stories and updates, on the website blog, the newsletter and social media. It is a collective space to connect the struggles, join the campaigns and consolidate our collective positions on key issues.
The network is a space for exchange, it hosts events for members to learn from each other, as well as hosting direct communication channels for the members. The network has various internal working groups on different subjects related to mining.
Between the 60+ members of YLNM, many of whom have extensive experience in resisting mining projects, there exists a wide breadth of knowledge and many connections and advice to share between the struggles. On top of this, YLNM has access to a variety of other resources which the network members can utilise.